tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post5345227498897806868..comments2023-11-02T06:57:11.400-04:00Comments on BookEnds Literary Agency: Questions to Ask Before Signing with an AgentBookEnds, A Literary Agencyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06287278822065839469noreply@blogger.comBlogger15125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-85010224271407577852007-04-25T02:14:00.000-04:002007-04-25T02:14:00.000-04:00That was quick. :-) Thanks, much appreciated! It's...That was quick. :-) Thanks, much appreciated! It's so much easier just to read everything in Google reader (and then pop in when you want to comment, of course). <BR/><BR/>SaraAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-87224169106795897572007-04-25T00:22:00.000-04:002007-04-25T00:22:00.000-04:00Wow... a lot of information and daunting for a nov...Wow... a lot of information and daunting for a novice. I'm glad there are nice agents like you out there! There is a person in the industry that I'm in who publishes information like this to make his own job easier and to make his clients happier. I hope it's working for you.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-7324410288282639502007-04-24T16:44:00.000-04:002007-04-24T16:44:00.000-04:00Thanks so much. I'm printing this post and the las...Thanks so much. I'm printing this post and the last one out and sticking them right in the front of my Agent binder.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-68291443042129599612007-04-24T15:16:00.000-04:002007-04-24T15:16:00.000-04:00Other questions I felt it was important to ask:At ...Other questions I felt it was important to ask:<BR/><BR/>At what point do you prefer to see new projects?<BR/><BR/>What drew you to this book? What do you see as its strengths?<BR/><BR/>Why do you represent books in this genre? (I once heard an agent admit in a panel discussion that she had started handling a type of book she'd previously avoided, just because it was suddenly hot. Eeek!) <BR/><BR/>Would you have a problem with me continuing to place my work in contests and/or meet with editors on my own at conferences? <BR/><BR/>And, for Anonymous who asked "If only one respectable agent out of 30 shows interest and she's #29 on your priority list of who you'd like to represent you, what do you do?" My answer would be, that with ANY offer of representation, it all boils down to yes or no - right for you or wrong for you. Multiple offers are very flattering and create a wonderful dilemma, but here's the thing: you could have a dozen agents vying to work with you, and they could all, every one of them, be wrong for you. <BR/><BR/>The number of agents is irrelevant. All that matters is whether this is the right fit. <BR/>Don't settle. Hold out for what's right for you.krishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06935764958247625983noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-60245969162219554812007-04-24T13:43:00.000-04:002007-04-24T13:43:00.000-04:00Thank you, Jessica! Very helpful, and I'm taking c...Thank you, Jessica! Very helpful, and I'm taking copious notes. <BR/><BR/>What I'd like to know from some of the agented authors is how many of you had multiple agents to interview and how many of you married your only date? <BR/><BR/>What if you have only one agent offer and the agent seems OK but you've no one else to compare her answers to? Best case, of course, is that you have lots of agent interest, but what if you've got a competently written book that's receiving nice, personal rejections from agents but agents just aren't clamoring at the door? <BR/><BR/>If only one respectable agent out of 30 shows interest and she's #29 on your priority list of who you'd like to represent you, what do you do? When, if ever, is an "OK fit" good enough?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-43400718513932608052007-04-24T12:35:00.000-04:002007-04-24T12:35:00.000-04:00I highly recommend talking to a couple of the agen...I highly recommend talking to a couple of the agent's clients before making the final decision. <BR/><BR/>Here's a question I wish I'd asked my agent: "How quickly do you respond to emails/phone calls?"<BR/><BR/>(Turns out that my agent is veerrrryyyy sloooowwww to respond.)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-14973442232146448462007-04-24T11:24:00.000-04:002007-04-24T11:24:00.000-04:00Thanks for the great info., JessicaThanks for the great info., JessicaTyhitia Greenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14070000168178880911noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-26069319331936336352007-04-24T09:55:00.000-04:002007-04-24T09:55:00.000-04:00Sara:You ask and you shall receive. The feeds are ...Sara:<BR/><BR/>You ask and you shall receive. The feeds are activated. We are in the process of doing some major blog tweaking and appreciate all the feedback and requests.<BR/><BR/>jhfBookEnds, A Literary Agencyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06287278822065839469noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-33616794267800039402007-04-24T09:23:00.000-04:002007-04-24T09:23:00.000-04:00One question I'd be sure to ask is whether the age...One question I'd be sure to ask is whether the agent intends to offer editorial recommendations on your proposals/ideas. Some authors appreciate and welcome input and suggested revisions to make the proposal the strongest it can be, and some don't want anyone's mitts on their project but their own. I really (really!) appreciate my agent's comments and suggestions.Jolie Mathishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00989596973794504609noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-92119011315537783582007-04-24T09:07:00.000-04:002007-04-24T09:07:00.000-04:00Thanks, Jessica!Thanks, Jessica!Laura K. Curtishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08444534759113332744noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-76058797124326195642007-04-24T08:49:00.000-04:002007-04-24T08:49:00.000-04:00Excellent! I've saved them for just in case. Tha...Excellent! I've saved them for just in case. Thanks.Kimber Lihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03982239712083114488noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-82794857872465324872007-04-24T06:52:00.000-04:002007-04-24T06:52:00.000-04:00Angelle:That is a concern, but not necessarily a r...Angelle:<BR/><BR/>That is a concern, but not necessarily a reason for an author-agent agreement. <BR/><BR/>Laura:<BR/><BR/>Give me a few weeks and I'll do a post on the pros/cons of an author-agent agreement and some things you should look out for and/or expect.<BR/><BR/>Everyone:<BR/><BR/>I think Laura and Angelle brought up some good points. If there are any questions on this list you'd like me to expand upon please let me know and I will do a separate post on each. <BR/><BR/>jhfBookEnds, A Literary Agencyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06287278822065839469noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-82936749535555169752007-04-24T06:28:00.000-04:002007-04-24T06:28:00.000-04:00Laura,I think you should ask for it because some a...Laura,<BR/><BR/>I think you should ask for it because some agencies demand that you give them commissions for the books they sold, even for the rights they didn't sell.<BR/><BR/>For example, Agent Jane sold your book WONDERFUL DEBUT to Avon, World English rights. You and Agent Jane decide to go separate ways or Agent Jane dies or something. So Agent Jane is no longer your agent.<BR/><BR/>You hire a new agent, Susan. Agent Susan sells WONDERFUL DEBUT's Korean, Spanish and movie rights. So you give Agent Susan her 20% for selling those right on your behalf.<BR/><BR/>But if you had some sort of clause that forces you to pay Agent Jane forever, then Agent Jane, too, gets her 20% on the Korean, Spanish and movie rights money. So you end up paying 40% commission.<BR/><BR/>Refer to Kristin Nelson's old post on <A HREF="http://pubrants.blogspot.com/2006/09/reading-fine-print.html" REL="nofollow">this topic.</A>Nadiahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13733662207462341395noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-79069503337770407362007-04-24T04:19:00.000-04:002007-04-24T04:19:00.000-04:00That's pretty comprehensive, but I don't really kn...That's pretty comprehensive, but I don't really know what this means:<BR/><BR/><I>Do you issue an agent-author agreement? May I review the language of the agency clause that appears in contracts you negotiate for your clients?</I><BR/><BR/>In a post some time in the future, would you consider explaining some of the legalese associated with agents and agencies?Laura K. Curtishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08444534759113332744noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23051453.post-43347665776292162652007-04-24T03:36:00.000-04:002007-04-24T03:36:00.000-04:00Another interesting post. I love your blog, but co...Another interesting post. I love your blog, but couldn't you please activate full RSS feeds? <BR/><BR/>SaraAnonymousnoreply@blogger.com